Alex Sander and I collaborated for our human factors class with BC Hwang. We wanted to help 'ease' young girls into their menstrual cycle. So we branched off to redesign the tampon applicator to be less intimidating, more user friendly and to have a smaller impact on the environment.

It soon evolved into using our product as a platform for education and to promote feminine hygiene as a less taboo subject.

How might we positively change a girl's 1st period story?

Initial Research

How do girls learn about their feminine care options?

Their options depend on who they are taught by and limited to those until they find out all the others.

Cultural Probe

We posted a survey on multiple social media sites asking our friendly females young and old to

answer a few questions about their feminine care routine and their connection with their bodies.

On Average

Girls are starting their periods younger. This is caused by estrogen like hormones in processed foods, which interfere with proper hormone production. (organicconsumers.com)

Pain Points

The girls we surveyed experienced a lot of negative feelings to 1st starting their periods.

Opportunity

This disconnect between a young girl and a part of her body is something that could be changed through knowledge of one's self.

Interview

Market Research

I made a comparative analysis of all feminine hygiene care products currently on the market.

Mapping it on how easy it was to apply and how well you have to know your body to feel comfortable using it. Also noting the impact on the environment and conveniency of each product.

Material Research

I looked for patents to find innovative materials that were safe for the body and possibly water soluble.

Health Constraints

Toxic Shock Syndrome is the result of an organic material, such as a cotton tampon, that is left inside the body for too long. The cotton then starts producing harmful toxins. We had to properly warn our users.

Insights

Women converted from their 1st use of pads to using tampons then on to the menstrual cup. The stepping stone of products is something we wanted to capitalize on.

Opportunities

8% of girls switched to Obs

(applicator-less tampons)

By promoting the use of Ob tampons it would be more eco friendly & more cost efficient.

Anthropometry

Girls on average stop growing 2 years after starting their cycle, so we had to find the proper proportions for our product.

Movement

Our product's control is a single reaching movement to a stationary target. Using pure force but with very minimal strain on the middle finger. It has a low control to response ratio spanning about 8 seconds.

Kegel Muscle

The Kegel muscle restricts when tense which causes discomfort when not relaxed when inserting the product.

Opportunity

We decided to make a training tool that puts a wall between the Kegel and the cotton until it is properly placed within the vagina.

Blind Task + Mental Trigger = Movement Complete

FORM IDEATION

Form Inspiration

The egg symbolizes the start of ones life and also the form itself is familiar. The familiarity allows the introduction of a new process easier to grasp in turn allowing the user to feel more comfortable.

Tactile Control

We decided to make our product slightly compressible to reduce slippage and to accommodate both hands for greater dexterity. Rounding the form avoids pressure points, along with placing texture changes for better finger placement. It rests against the pubic bone while the bottom entrance tapers into the vagina to allow maximum finger length.

Brand Strategy

For our sensory details we chose colors that were inviting but less childish because it is sensitive time in a girls life when entering womanhood.

Making the packaging and form language of the product approachable for our young budding users.

Green: new, fresh and immature - accent

Blues: calm, remoteness, private, seclusion

Pink: youthfulness and femininity - accent

Our Girl

"What does she need?"

This is Liz.

13 years old

She enjoys swim practice with her friends and wants to be a doctor. Liz has not started her period yet and living an active happy life the last thing she should have to worry about is starting her period in school, unprepared.

So her Dad gave her ‘ease’

Our Prototyped Tool

Friendly & Approachable

The goal being friendly and approachable. Paying close attention to how the steps were read in sequence.

Our Book

This is our example book. We used language as a way to reach our readers.

Product on Market

Our tool we predicted would only be used at the start of one's learning process. Until they learn how to insert Ob tampon's without the help. Our product will sit on the shelf with the period care options.